Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-09-27

run these furnaces employs $4,000 men,
burning $4,000 ovens, pIoftably making
more than $12, 00O, 900 Of capital.
West Virginia and Kentucky have veins
of eoking coal, making coke certainly equal
of that of Connellsville, covering hundreds
of miles Of their territory, and for the lack
Of railway communication undeyeloped
and practically valueless. And the anne
holds relatively true of iron. Within a
radius OF 100 miles Of the proposed West
Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee railway,
its line running through coal from its iu-
ceptiOn for several hundred m les, lies the
richest deposits Of hematIte, red and brown,
limnite, speeular and magnetic ore upon
the Continent, exceeding in magnitude
the coal and mineral wealth of
Great Britain and the German
Empire, while the marble qusrries of Ten
uessee and adjacent areas, furnishing not
only the limestone for tiux, but building
stone of most exquisite character, excel
those of other known deposits. Let
thoughtful men for a while ponder these
facts. Here within twelve hour travel OF
Charleston, which stands at the head water
navigation of more than 20, 900 miles is a
natural wealth, all undeveloped-excell-
ing the vast resources of the two most pow
erful nations of Europe.
Reporter-These facts are certainly
amazing, and surely cannot be understood.
But you said you talked coal, iron and
Timber" WHAT is to be said of timber ?
Mr.. Stearns-It can hardly be credited
what is to be said. Within this ssme area
stards the finest growth Of deciduous, or
hard wood timber in the temperate o q
The magnitude and variety of the trees is
wonderful, and nine acres of every ten is
covered with the primitive forest. Outside
OF these limits, throughout the Mis-
sissippi basin to the Rocky Mountains, nine
acres of every ten are without 3 tree, and
every acre is or will become q customer for
the forest growth. From the top OF Roam
Mountain, the juncture of the States of
virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina, a
party not long since in an afternoons nde
Of 1t miles met over 80 varieties OF hard
wood. Chicago, by railroad cOmmunica-
ton, opening up the pine forests of Wis
consin and Michigan, for years has stood
the first soft wood market of the world,
her sales annually amounting to thousands
of millions Of feet. | believe a greater
wealth than this is available for Charles
toms future. Open up the Appalachian
basin by the construction of the West Viz
ginia, Kentucky and Tennessee Railway,
and there is abundant reason to believe
that Charleston may become the greatest
hard wood market of the world, the
banks of the Elk, Coal and Kanawa
piled with miles and miles of those woods,
daily growing more valuable by seasoning,
and purchasers ~throngiug her streets from
all parts of the country, from Europe and
from South America.
RepOrter-With such facts as you All
dVce, Mr.. Stearns, how is it possible that
this wealth lies dormant and the capital
has not been found to carry ont the great
public improvement you project?
Mr.. Stearus-Well, that Is seemingly in
COMPREHENSIVE. | have often been tOrci-
bly reminded OF the sCriptural illustration
of casting pearls before swina. | have con-
tended with jealousies and greed, with in
competence, treachery, perfdy, sickness
and death. Ii my experience with men,
in the effort | have made to get the capital
to build this road | have met were written
out they would be more startling
than n novel Still, l have falth to believe
that the end will be reached, aud
that I shall attain it. Never IS now was
the prospect of a successful combination
and negotiation so good a. this. l have
apparently within reach and under in
strumeutalities for the benefit of West
Virginia, more patent than ever before
available. IL all rests with the commit
tee and with the people OF the State, who
would be free themselves and strike the
blow
Reporter-Will the counties act?
Mr. Stearns-Ah, that is the questsOn
I am trying TO solve. If the counties along
the line OF the road in West Virginia will
vote aid to the extent Of 81, 0OO, 900, I be-
iieve the read could be built. HKa-I
uawha. Clay and BrsxtOn had voted
$3.50. 900 aid TO the sum, as was indicated
when | was here, | believe we should now
be at work building up Elk River.